Game Of Thrones Season 3 Photos, From Returning Favorites To New Characters

Of all the big name series coming back this spring and summer, and there are more than a few, Game of Thrones has to be one of, if not the most highly anticipated return. Two spectacular seasons of the HBO adaptation of George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" novels have already wowed fans, both newcomers and readers, but David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are just getting started. And you thought the first two seasons were shocking.

Benioff and Weiss, co-creators of the critically acclaimed TV show, have not been shy about expressing their excitement in getting to tell the third season story (based on half of "A Storm of Swords) and after a few uninspired teaser trailers ('Exhibit A' and 'Exhibit B'), the network finally released a decent look at the upcoming episodes of Game of Thrones with 'An Invitation to the Set' and 23 photos. Yes, 23.

To start things off, let's take a look at everyone's favorite Emmy and Golden Globe winning cast member, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. First thing to note, aside from just how beautifully composed the still image happens to be, is the decent sized scar traversing the 'Little Lion's' face. It may not be up to snuff for the rabid fan base (he lost his entire nose during the Blackwater battle in the novel) but I think it looks great.

Among some of the other photos posted today on the Game of Thrones Facebook page are some of the new cast members. First up is Paul Kaye as Thoros of Myr, and although he doesn't fully capture the fat part of the, uh, part, he's got the tall and bald aspects down. Thoros is a Red Priest (worshipping the same God as Melisandre) and a member of the Brotherhood without Banners, the group Ned Stark sent out to hunt down Gregor 'The Mountain' Clegane near the end of Season 1. Here's Thoros.

Speaking of the Brotherhood Without Banners, the man who was actually dispatched by Ned to lead the hunt was Beric Dondarrion and he has since been recast with Richard Dormer stepping into the really cool role. Without saying too much, his nickname is the Lightning Lord, I mean, how cool is that? Take a look at Dormer's Dondarrion sporting a recent wound.

Two characters whose absence from the two first seasons caused a bit of a clamour were the Reeds because Jojen and Meera meet up with Bran a bit earlier in story according to the novels. They are important characters for that thread but I can totally understand why they held back on their introduction since there are already a million characters in the universe. This is Thomas Brodie Sangster as Jojen Reed followed by Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed.